LTTE deviousness exposed

THE seizure at the BIA of highly incriminating material - including a weapons catalogue - from the Tiger delegation to the recently concluded Geneva ceasefire talks, is further proof of the double-faced policy of the LTTE to the National Question.

We are compelled to infer from this incident that peace and reconciliation could be farthest from the minds of the Tigers.

Even while going through the motions of talking peace, the LTTE seems to be feverishly preparing for war. Is not this development clinching evidence that the seemingly smiling face of Tamilselvan is really a slippery facade, hiding some of the most evil designs the LTTE could think-up?

We challenge the LTTE to come clean on this detection: why were they trying to spirit into this country material which could prove handy in war and destruction?

More vitally, what is their attitude towards peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka? If the Tigers are for resolving this conflict by peaceful means, we do not see any reason why they should continue to fortify themselves through the purchase of new weaponry.

The weapons catalogue found in the Tiger baggage points to an ongoing programme of weapons procurement. Thus, for the LTTE, the CFA seems to be a dead letter rather than a basis for taking forward the peace process.

All this points to the need for eternal vigilance on the part of the authorities.

If the Tigers are replenishing their armoury by deceitful means, it is not really news. They followed the same strategy while pretending to talk peace with the former UNF administration., Consequently, the Tigers developed a sizeable military capability and kept themselves in fine trim while the then authorities looked the other way.

Certainly, the CFA must be fully honoured by the State in both letter and spirit, but it cannot allow itself to be fooled by the LTTE. All LTTE movements should be subjected to the closest scrutiny by the State with a view to crippling illegal activities, such as arms smuggling.

The Tigers, for their part, should prove their adherence to the terms of the CFA, to the entire satisfaction of the State and the people. We hope the LTTE realises that it is the Tamil people who suffer as a result of their allowing chances to make peace go abegging.

More than 20 years of bloodshed and war should convince the Tigers that there is no military solution to the conflict. Nor is the State going to negotiate an end to the conflict on less than honourable terms. Accordingly, the LTTE has no choice but to genuinely negotiate and refrain from following a Janus - faced policy on the conflict.

Therefore, inasmuch as we call on the State to stand firm and enforce the law stringently, we call on the Tigers to negotiate in earnest.

In this exercise, confidence-building measures by both sides play a crucial role. While the State should go the extra mile to build an atmosphere of peace in the country, the Tigers should refrain from effecting an arms build-up.